Tubing tester valve



July 4,` 1967 M. B. CONRAD 3,329,007

TUBING TESTER VALVE #www Arm/Vaas M. B. CONAD 3,329,007

July 4, 1967 y TUBING TESTER VALVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 4, 1964INVENTOR 5 CdA/Q40 BY MKM United States Patent O 3,329,007 TUBING TESTERVALVE Martin B. Conrad, P.0. Box 1026, N. Downey Station,l Downey,Calif. 90240 Filed nec. 4, 1964, ser. N0. 416,039 19 Claims. (Cl.73-40.5)

ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A flap valve pivoted at one side within atubular housing closes against a transverse seat, and is swung -to oneside by movement of the seat carrying member. Initial movement equalizespressure 4across the valve, and final movement engages a ratchetmechanism which prevents relative reverse movement of the member andhousing, thereby holding the valve open.

The present invention relates to valves, and more particularly to avalve useful in the running of Oilfield pipe or tubing to enable thetesting of the pipe or tubing as it is being run into a well whereby todetermine the existence of leaks.

In certain oil and gas well treatments subsurface packers are run intothe well casing or Well bore on a string of Well pipe, drill pipe ortubing, hereinafter generically referred to as tubing, and such packersare actuated to effect a seal between the tubing and the well casing, sothat fluid under pressure may be pumped down the tubing string throughthe packer and into the subterranean earth formation. Such practicesprevail, for example in the hydraulic fracturing o'r acidizing of theformation, or in cementing.

During running of the tubing string it is made up in lengths or standsby means of threaded joints, and the tubing string may be a number ofthousands of feet in length. Therefore, it is desirable to periodicallytest the tubing as it is being run to determine the existence of a leak,either at a joint or otherwise. To enable this, tubing tester valves areemployed which should be so constructed as to enable repetitive testing,say after a desired number of lengths or stands of pipe have been addedto the string. Testing involves closing the valve in the tubing stringand pressurizing the tubing above the valve to determine whether it ispressure tight. In addition, the valve should be compatible with thepacker, that is, the packer should be operable through the tubing testervalve, and such packers typically may require rotation of the tubingstring as well as longitudinal m-ovement'of the tubing string.

Inasmuch as the tubing tester valve is in the path of well treatingfiuids, it is also desirable that the valve be so constructed as to notcause a restriction to the flow of fluid, or for that matter, thepassage of any tool that can pass through the tubing. In addition, sincethe valve may be closed under high pressure, as for example when thevalve is beneath the hydrostatic pressure of a column several thousandfeet deep, it is desirable that the valve be easily opened independentlyof fiuid, or for that matter, the passage of any tool In view of theforegoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a tubing testervalve assembly having a full opening valve which offers no obstructionto. the passage of well tools therethrough and causes no restriction inthe flow path of well treating uids.

Another object is to provide such a tubing tester valve which is easyt-o open, and which in the furtherence of this object is constructed sothat as an initial stage of its opening the pressure differential acrossthe valve is balanced, and thereafter the valve is fully opened.

Still another object is to provide a tubing tester valve that not onlyhas the above features, but which also is compatible with packerstherebelow which require tubing rotation and/ or longitudinal movementsto effect setting of the packer.

More particularly, the invention contemplates a simple valve which isoperative in combination with a seat to permit the unobstructed passageof fluid through a pair of telescopic tubular parts for one direction,but being constructed to prevent flow in the other direction, the seatbeing moved away from the valve when the same is to be opened to permitflow in the other direction, While the valve is temporarily supported,thereby allowing the balancing of the pressure in the housing.

Another object is to provide such a valve wherein upon telescopicmovement of the tubular parts to a predetermined limit the valve will beheld displaced wholly'to one side of the parts and the latter will beinterlocked to enable operation of the packer therebelow by manipulationof the tubing string.

More particularly, the invention contemplates tubular bodies mounted onewithin the other for relative rotation upon rotation of the uppersection of the runningin string of pipe or tubing, such relativerotation causing longitudinal movement within one of said bodies of apart which engages and shifts the valve laterally to one side of theassembly, and holds it securely against vi- Ibration.

Another object is to provide a valve assembly according to the precedingobject in which preliminary to shifting of the valve laterally thepressure across the valve is balanced by retraction of the valve seat,the valve being held against movement with the seat by the member whichsubsequently effects lateral movement of the valve.

While the valve has been characterized above and will be describedhereinafter as being useful in the testing of tubing it will beunderstood that the valve also has other utility. For example, anotheroperation conducted in oil and gas wells in which a valve may besubjected to substantial differential pressure when closed is aformation testing operation in which a string of tubing or pipe isruninto a body of fluid standing in the well bore and in which it isdesired that the tubing be maintained internally dry until such time asa sample of formation fluids is to be obtained. The valve of the presentinvention is useful in such an application simply by inverting theassembly in the tubing string so that the valve will be held closed byfluid pressure within the well bore as the tubing string is being runinto the well.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed or will become apparent to those skilled in the art, and thenovel features of the invention will be defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. l is a longitudinal sectional View through a tubing tester valvemade in accordance with the invention, shown in condition for runningand testing pipe;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing the seatretracted from beneath the valve to enable balancing of pressure acrossthe valve;

FIG. 3 is a view corresponding to FIG. l but showing the valve in thelaterally displaced position to one side of the body;

FIG. 4 is a view in transverse section as taken on the line 4 4 of FIG.3;

FIG. 5 is a view in transverse section as taken on the line 5 5 of FIG.3;

FIG. 6 is a view in transverse section as taken on the line 6 6 of FIG.3; and

FIG. 7 is a View in transverse section as taken on the line 7-7 of FIG.3.

Like reference characters in the several views of the drawings and inthe following description designate corresponding parts.

The tubing tester Valve of the present invention is illustrated asincluding an upper and outer tubular body 1 in which is disposed a lowerand inner tubular body 2. At its upper end the body 1 has means 3 forconnecting the body 1 to an upward section of tubing T. The lower end ofbody 2 has a means 4 for connection to a downwardly extended length ofthe tubing T which may lead to a well packer (not shown) as is wellknown in the art.

Tubular body 1 has a bore 5. Tubular body 2 has its upper end extendinginto the bore 5 and retained in the bore by a bushing 6 which isthreaded into the lower end of body 1 as at 7. Sealing means arepreferably provided between the bushing 6 and the body 1 and between thebushing 6 and the body 2, such sealing means comprising O-rings 8carried by one part and sealingly engaging the other.

Body 2 has an inner end face 9 circumscribing the passage 10 through thebody 2, this end face constituting a valve seat. This valve seat 9 isadapted to be sealingly engaged by a valve or flap 11 pivotallysupported within body 1 for movement between a first position inengagement with the seat 9 (see FIG. 1) and a second position laterallydisplaced so as to be disposed wholly to one side of the body bore 5(see FIG. 3). If desired, the ap 11 may be provided with a resilientsealing element 12 for sealing engagement with the seat 9. Interposedbetween the valve ap 11 and the inner wall of the body 1 is a spring11a. The purpose of this spring is to assure that the valve ap 11 willbe moved from the laterally displaced position as shown in FIG. 3 whenthe valve assembly is to be used to maintain the tubing string dry asreferred to above. It is preferred that the spring be so constructed asto bias the valve flap 11 into sealing engagement with the seat 9 so asto prevent the initial ow of fluid therebetween. Accordingly, in theillustrative embodiment, the spring 11a is shown as comprising a pair ofspring arms 11b and 11c having an intermediate spring coil, the arm 11bslidably contacting the valve ap 11 and the arm 11C being connected tothe body 1.

Means are provided within the bore 5 whereby upon relative rotation ofthe bodies 1 and 2 the valve 11 is effective to separate the valve 11and seat 9 (see FIG. 3). Thus, differential pressure across the closedValve may be balanced during an intial stage of actuation of the valveto cause its movement from said rst or closed position to said second oropen position.

Such means includes a valve shifter or slide 13 which extendslongitudinally within the bore 5 of body 1 and extends circumferentiallypartially around the upper or inner end of body 2. (See FIGURE 6.)Internally, the slide 13 is formed with a thread 14 engaged with acomplemental thread 15 provided externally on the body 2. These threads14 and 15 constitute means for causing telescopic or longitudinalmovement of the slide 13 within the body 1, as well as to cause initialmovement of the body 2 and seat 9 away from valve flap 11. In the latterconnection it will be noted that the upper end of slide 13 has a ange 16which projects inwardly into sliding relation with the body 2 adjacentthe seat 9, the flange constituting an abutment engageable by the valve11 as shown in FIGURE 2 and having flow passages 17 to allow fluid owbetween ange 16 and valve 11.

Means are provided for holding slide 13 against rotation in body 1, thatis to cause rotation of body 1 and slide 13 as a unit, while allowingsliding movement of slide 13 within the body 1 between a first positionas shown in FIG. l in which the slide 13 is wholly located below theupper end of or seat 9 of body 2 and a second position at which theslide is longitudinally extended upwardly past the seat 9. This means,in the illustrative embodiment, comprises an elongated key 18 providedin the body 1 and slidably engaged in a complemental key- Way 19extending longitudinally of the slide 13.

Typically, key 18 may be formed as a part of a spacer block 20 locatedat the upper extremity of the bore 5 in body 1. Spacer block 20 isarcuate so as to afford no obstruction in the passage through theassembly and projects inwardly for abutting contact by the upper end ofslide 13 to limit upward movement of the latter in bore 5. Block 20 andkey 18 may be welded in place in the body 1, as at 20 and 18', or may beotherwise suitably fixed therein.

As previously mentioned, body 2 is adapted to be moved longitudinallyaway from the closed valve 11, and therefore, means are provided forenabling such movement during an initial stage of rotation of the body 1relative to body 2. Hence, adjacent the inner end of bushing 6, the body2 has an outwardly projecting radial flange 21 which abuts with theinner end of bushing 6 to prevent axial separation of the bodies 1 and 2and which is engageable with an inwardly projecting ange 22 in asplit-ring 23. Flange 22 and the inner end of bushing 6 are spaced aparta distance sufficient to provide an axially extended space 24 in whichange 21 is allowed a range of axial movement sufficient to allow theseat 9 to project through flange 16 of slide 17 for seating of the valve11 and to allow the seat 9 to be retracted to the position shown in FIG.2, as referred to above.

Split ring 23 is connected to bushing 6 by means of interfitting flanges25 and 26, the ring segments being shown as semicircular and abutting at27. It will be understood that the segments of ring 23 are assembled onthe body 2 and the bushing or retainer 6 prior to insertion of the body2 into the body 1.

Means for supporting valve 11 within body 1 is provided on one segmentof ring 23 and is shown as including an elongated support arm 28, whichextends between the circumferentially spaced edges 29 of slide 13, asbest seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. At the upper end of arm 28 is -a head 30 towhich the valve 11 is connected. Head 30 is slotted at 31 to receive anear 32 on valve 11, a pivot pin 33 extending through the head across theslot 31 and through an elongated slot 34 in ear 32, whereby the valve 11is free to partake of free motion, `as will hereinafter appear.

It will now be understood that rotation of the body 1 relative to thebody 2 in either direction will cause telescopic movement of slide 13 inthe body 1 and relative to the bodies 1 and 2, but since the valveassembly is to be employed with a torque operated well packer in thetubing string below the valve, it is desired that the valve assembly maybe conditioned to transmit torque in either direction while the valveremains in an open condition. Therefore, as best seen in FIG. 7, meansare provided to latch the valve open, that is, to prevent left-handrotation of body 1 relative to body 2 after right-hand rotation hascaused threads 14 and 15 to move slide 13 into engagement with thespacer block 20.

The illustrative locking means includes a ratchet element 35 carried byslide 13 and co-operative teeth 36 on the body 2. Ratchet 35 includes anarcuate spring 37 disposed in a groove 38 adjacent the lower end ofslide 13. At the ends of the spring 37 are drive lugs 39 havingangularly disposed surfaces 40 which engage the longitudinal edges 29 ofslide 13, the support arm 28 extending between the lugs 39. On the innerwall of the spring 37 is a ratchet tooth 41 engageable with the teeth 36on body 2 during the last few turns of body 1 relative to body 2, itbeing notable that teeth 36 are located adjacent the lowermost threadhelix on body 2. As rotation of the body 1 causes movement of the slide13 upwardly to the extent that ratchet tooth 41 is engageable with teeth36, reverse rotation will be prevented and torque may be transmittedthrough the assembly by means of the ratchet teeth. However, continuedright-hand rotation of body 1 relative to body 2 is permitted by theratchet until slide 13 shoulders on spacer 20, and thereafter right-handtorque may be transmitted through the assembly.

In use, the valve assembly is made up in ,a running-in string of tubing,and is run into a well in the condition shown in FIG. 1. The valve 11 isfree to swing upwardly as fluid passes through the assembly duringlowering of the string. When downward movement of the tubing isarrested, valve 11 will assume the full line position, spring 11aassuring displacement of the valve from the laterally displaced positionshown in broken lines. When it is desired to test one or more joints oftubing, the valve will be in position to prevent flow of' fluid throughthe assembly so that the tubing may be pressurized. If a leak isdetected and it is desired to pull the tubing, the valve may bepartially opened by rotating the string a number of turns to causepartial opening of the valve. If no leak'is detected and it is desiredto set the packer in the tubing below the valve assembly, rotation ofthe string to the right will cause full opening of the valve andengagement of the ratchet so that the valve assembly may transmit torquein either direction as well as longitudinal movement, either or both ofwhich may be necessary toset the packer in the tubing.

In order to reduce the stress applied to the valve 11 and moreparticularly to the pivot therefor, as the slide 13, in moving from the.position shown in FIG. l'to the position shown in FIG. 3, engages andmoves the valve laterally to the out-of-the-way position shown in FIG.3, the initial stage of rotation of body 1 relative to body 2 results inbalancing of pressure across the valve while the valve is supported onthe slide 13. Such initial rotation causes rotation of slide 13 which,due to the threads 14 and 15 on the slide and on the body 2, will causetelescopic movement of body 2 downward in body 1 until flange 21contacts the upper end of bushing 6, as shown in FIG.L 2. Responsive tosuch rel-ative movement, the valve 11 will move downward on itslost-motion pivot into abutting relation with the upper end of the slide13, and the seat 9 will break contact with the Valve 11, pressurebalancing across the valve through end slots or passages 17 in the endof slide 13. Thereafter, continue-d rotation of the body-1 relative tobody 2 will cause the slide 13 to be fedaxially relative to body 2 andalong drive key 18,

the sl-ide camming the Avalve aside to the FIG. 3.

When the spring ratchet ring 37, moving axially of the body 2, comesAinto coengaging relation to the teeth position shown in 36, the ratchetspring will expand to allow further simil-ar rotation of the body 1, butratchet teeth 36 and 41 will coengage to prevent opposite rotation, andthe assembly will be latched substantially in the position shown in FIG.3, with the valve full open.v

While the specific details of the invention have been herein shown anddescribed, ch-anges and alterations may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

.1. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an outer tubular body, an innertubular :body disposed in said outer body, said inner body having aninner end surface forming a valve seat, a valve pivoted on the outerbody for movement into and out of engagement with said seat, means formoving said valve about its pivot and wholly to one side of said bodiesupon relative movement of said bodies, and means for holding said valveduring an initial stage of movement of said lbodies to allow movement ofsaid seat away from said valve.

2. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 1, wherein said means formoving said valve includes -a slide threadedly mounted on one of saidbodies and slidably connected to the other of said bodies for telescopicmovement in the latter upon relative rotation of said bodies. i

3. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 2, wherein said means forholding said valve during an initial stage of rotation of said bodiesincludes an abutment on said slide, said bodies having meansinterconnecting the same for relative axial movement in said initialstage of rotaltion of said bodies to move said seat away from said tivemovement of said bodies, and means for initially holding said valve apto allow movement of said seat away from said flap during an initialstage of relative movement of said bodies.

5. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 4, including means forlatching said bodies against opposite relative movement during the finalstage of relative movement of said bodies.

6. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an outer tubular body, an innertubular body disposed in said outer body, means interconnecting saidbodies for relative rotation, sai-d inner body having an inner endsurface forming a valve seat, a valve iiap pivota-lly mounted on theouter body adjacent said seat for pivotal movements between a firstposition engaging said seat and a second position laterally displacedwholly to one side of said bodies, means coengaged with said bodies formoving said valve flap from said first position to said second positionupon relative rotation of said bodies, and means for initially holdingsaid valve flap to allow movement of said seat away from said flapduring an initial stage of relative rotation of said lbodies.

7. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 6, wherein said means formoving said flap comprises a member slidably connected to one of saidbodies and threadedly engaged with the other of said bodies so as tomove telescopically relative to said bodies upon relative rotation ofsaid bodies, said member having a portion engageable with said flap tocam the latter to one side of said bodies upon movement of said memberin one direction.

8. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 6, wherein said means formoving said flap comprises a mem-ber slidably connected to one of saidbodies and threadedly connected to the other of said bodies, said innerbody and said member having means interconnecting the same for initiallongitudinal movement of said inner body away from said iiap in theinitial stage of relative rotation of said bodies, and said memberhaving means providing an abutment for holding said iiap againstmovement with said inner member, whereby to initially balance pressureacross said fiap during the initial stage of relative rotation of saidbodies.

9. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an outer tubular body, an innertubular body disposed in said inner body, means interconnecting saidbodies for relative rotation, a valve flap, means pivotally mountingsaid flap in said outer body at one side thereof and adjacent the innerend of said inner body, said inner body having at said end a transversesurface forming a seat for said flap, a slide interposed between saidbodies, means connecting said slide to one of said bodies forlongitudinal sliding movement, means connecting said slide to the otherof said bodies to effect sliding movement of said slide upon relativerotation of said bodies, and a portion on said slide movable with saidslide from a first position at one side of said seat to a secondposition at the other side of said seat, said portion constituting meansengageable with said flap to cam the latter pivotally to one side ofsaid bodies.

10. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 9, wherein said meansinterconnecting said bodies for relative rotation includes means forpermitting initial relative longitudinal movement of said bodies,whereby said seat is moved relative to said portion of said slide to aposition at which said portion engages said flap.

11. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an outer tubular body, an innertubular body disposed in said outer body, a support removably disposedin said outer body, a valve flap pivoted on said support, a valve seatextended transversely of one of said bodies, connector means on saidsupport and connected to said outer body for revolvably mounting saidinner body in said outer body, and slide means interengaged with saidbodies and telescopically movable relative thereto upon rotation of saidbodies, for engaging and causing pivotal movement of said flap from aposition engaged with said seat to a 4laterally displaced position toone side of said ybodies upon relative rotation of said bodies in onedirection.

12. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 11, whereing saidconnector means includes an arcuate member on said support extendingabout said inner body, said arcuate member and said inner body havingradial flanges projecting into yoverlapped relation, and a bushingremovably connected to said outer body and having means interconnectedwith said arcuate member.

13. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 11, wherein said supportincludes an elongate section extending longitudinally of said outer bodyat one side thereof, said slide means including an elongate memberdisposed between said bodies and having longitudinal edges slidablealong said elongate section of said support.

14. A tubing tester valve as deiined in claim 11, wherein said supportincludes an elongate section extending longitudinally of said `outerbody at one side thereof, said slide means including an elongate memberdisposed between said bodies and having longitudinal edges slidablealong said elongate section of said su-pport, said slide member havingthreads thereon, one of said bodies baving threads coengaged with thethreads on said slide member, and the other of said bodies and saidslide member having longitudinally extended key and slot means, wherebyto cause sliding movement of said slide member upon relative rotation ofsaid bodies.

15. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 11, wherein said slidemeans and one of said bodies have cooperative latch -means coengageableupon movement of said slide to a position with said flap in saidlaterally displaced position to prevent opposite relative rotation ofsaid bodies.

16. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 11, wherein said slidemeans and one of said bodies have cooperative ratchet means coengageableupon movement of said slide to a position with said iiap in saidlaterally displaced position to prevent opposite relative rotation ofsaid bodies, said ratchet means including a tooth ycarried by `one ofsaid bodies and an arcuate spring connected to said slide and having atooth engageable with said tooth on said one of said bodies.

17. A tubing tester valve, comprising: an elongate tubular body having avalve seat at one end, a radial flange intermediate the ends of saidbody, a thread on said body between said seat and said flange, anelongate support member extending along one side of said body, an outertubular body having an end disposed about said first-mentioned body,connector means including a second flange and a bushing surrounding saidfirst-mentioned body and connected to said outer body for rotatablyconnecting said flange on said first mentioned body, a valve appivotally connected to said support member adjacent said seat tonormally engage said seat, a slide between said bodies having a threadengaged with said thread on said first-mentioned body, longtiudinal keyand slot means slidably connecting said slide to said outer body, saidslide having an end engageable with said flap upon movement of saidslide :longitudinally of said bodies responsive to relative rotation ofsaid bodies to cause said valve to be pivoted to a laterally displacedposition wholly to one side of said bodies.

18. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 17, wherein said secondflange and said bushing are spaced apart a distance greater than thethickness of said flange on said first-mentioned body, whereby saidfirst-mentioned body is free to =move longitudinally of said outer bodyduring an initial stage of relative rotation of said bodies to retractsaid seat from engagement with said liap while said ap is supported onsaid end of said slide to balance the pressure across said ap.

19. A tubing tester valve as defined in claim 18, wherein said slide andone of said bodies have cooperative means for holding said bodiesagainst relative rotation when said flap is laterally displaced.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,099,479 11/1937 Heinkel et al.137--369 X 2,841,171 7/1958 Baker et al. 166-224 X 2,853,265 9/1958Clark 166-226 2,874,927 2/ 1959 Conrad 166-226 X 2,921,601 1/1960 Fisher251-339 X 3,086,594 4/ 1963 Keithahn 166-226 LOUIS R. PRINCE, PrimaryExaminer.

I. NOLTON, Assistant Examiner.

1. A TUBING TESTER VALVE, COMPRISING: AN OUTER TUBULAR BODY, AN INNERTUBULAR BODY DISPOSED IN SAID OUTER BODY, SAID INNER BODY HAVING ANINNER END SURFACE FORMING A VALVE SEAT, A VALVE PIVOTED ON THE OUTERBODY FOR MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SEAT, MEANS FORMOVING SAID VALVE ABOUT ITS PIVOT AND WHOLLY TO ONE SIDE OF SAID BODIESUPON RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID BODIES, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID VALVEDURING AN INITIAL STAGE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID BODIES TO ALLOW MOVEMENT OFSAID SEAT AWAY FROM SAID VALVE.